Reds Beat Cubs 8-6

CINCINNATI (AP) — Pitcher Mike Lorenzen connected for a pinch-hit homer to begin Cincinnati’s comeback and Jesse Winker added a pinch-hit three-run homer in a big seventh that sent the Reds over the Chicago Cubs 8-6 on Sunday.

CINCINNATI, OH – JUNE 24: Albert Almora Jr. #5 of the Chicago Cubs dives to make a catch on a ball hit by Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Great American Ball Park on June 24, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 8-6. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Lorenzen’s homer was the third of his career and second in two games by a Reds pitcher.

Anthony DeSclafani hit a grand slam on Saturday — the first by a Reds pitcher since 1959.

The Reds, who have won seven straight and 11 of their past 13 games, completed a four-game sweep of the Cubs for the first time in 25 years.

Trailing 6-1 in the seventh Winker went opposite field with relief pitcher Pedro Strop’s first pitch after relieving emergency starter Mike Montgomery, driving it into the left field seats to cut Chicago’s lead to 6-5.

Joey Votto delivered the go-ahead double as the next four batters reached against Strop (3-1), who retired just two of the nine batters he faced.

Jose Peraza had two runs batted in and Tucker Barnhart had the game-tying RBI as the Reds set a season high for runs.

CINCINNATI, OH – JUNE 24: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 24, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 8-6. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Seven runs are the most allowed in one inning this season by the Cubs, who have lost six of their last eight games and were swept in a four-game series by the Reds for the first time since April 8-11, 1983, at Riverfront Stadium.

The Reds overcame a fifth-inning two-run homer by slumping Anthony Rizzo, who went 1-for-14 in the series, and a solo shot by Albert Almora Jr. off Jackson Stephens (1-0), which gave Chicago a 6-1 lead in the seventh.

Montgomery started in place of Tyler Chatwood, who left for Chicago early Sunday morning when his wife went into labor.

The left-hander kept the Reds scoreless until Lorenzen’s homer with two outs in the fifth inning.

Montgomery allowed six hits, three in the seventh, and four runs with two walks and six strikeouts.

The Cubs had at least one baserunner in every inning except the fourth against Sal Romano.

They reached him for eight hits and five runs with a walk and six strikeouts in five innings.

Amir Garrett had three strikeouts in the eighth before Raisel Iglesias picked up his 13th save.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: 3B Kris Bryant missed his second straight start and is day-to-day with a sore left shoulder.

Reds: RHP Homer Bailey, out since June 2 with right knee inflammation, threw 86 pitches in six innings of a rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (9-2) has won five straight starts for the first time since September 2016.

Reds: RHP Tyler Mahle (6-6) is 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA in four June starts.